Sony Acquires Share Of Elden Ring Developer FromSoftware

Although most of Fromsoftware's games have cultivated a niche audience thanks to their game's notorious difficulty and learning curb, the numbers don't lie, as Elden Ring has been one of, if not the most successful game in 2022. With this in mind, the recent acquisition of shares in the company by Sony and Tencent subsidiary, Sixjoy Hong Kong makes a lot of sense, not just for the third parties involved, but for FromSoftware as well.

So below will take a look at the details surrounding Sony and Tencent's acquisition of shares in Elden Ring developer; FormSoftware. And what this likely means for the future of the game developers that bring us the most crushing, yet rewarding games on the market.

Sony Acquires Share Of Elden Ring Developer FromSoftware

Kadokawa Corporation announced on 31st August, that it intends to sell FromSoftware shares to Sony Interactive Entertainment and Tencent subsidiary Sixjoy Hong Kong. A move that might surprise some, considering the company's massive success recently with Elden Ring.

The issuance of said shares, according to official documents, will result in Sixjoy owning 16.25 percent of the Elden Ring manufacturer. Sony will hold a 14.09 percent minority stake in the studio, while Kadokawa should own the remaining 69.66 percent.

Kadokawa gave FromSoftware permission to create a "third-party allotment" to Sony and Sixjoy because it is one of its "highest priorities" to improve "capabilities for the creation, development, and deployment of game IP."

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This is the main reason why the selling of these shares not only benefits FromSoftware but is also the smartest choice to make given the current gaming climate. Since Elden Ring and all of the other Souls titles made by the company are fairly polarizing with a lot of gamers, it does Fromsoftware a lot of good to partner with other companies to promote and develop its game as aggressively as possible.

Currently, FromSoftware releases its own works in Japan before collaborating with others for international distribution. (Activision Blizzard, for example, oversaw Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice; Bandai Namco publishes the Souls games, with the exception of Bloodborne).

This means that Fromsoftware not only secures funding for the release of its future games but also gives them an added strength in brand recognition and effortless release globally. So this was definitely a calculated play by Kadokawa Corporation, and subsequently FromSoftware.

The pieces all fall into place when you consider FromSoftware's announcement in June that it had begun hiring for "multiple'' new games. And company president Hidetaka Miyazaki also stated in an interview that an unannounced project—possibly Armored Core—is nearing completion.

So while it's unconfirmed as to when exactly shares for Fromsoftware will be issued to Sony and Sixjoy Hong Kong. We definitely know why it's happening, and it's only a matter of time before the deal that empowers FromSoftware to give us more of their game-changing titles goes through.

For more, head over to our section dedicated to the latest FromSoftware and Elden Ring news, guides, features, and more.

Featured image courtesy of FromSoftware.